Even with Williams struggling mightily for most of the night, Kellogg had a good feeling about the shot, a step-back look from near the top of the key that left the Rams' defenders out of position and stretched UMass' 2-point lead into a much-needed 5-point cushion.

"I was waiting for that. He's made so many of those over his career," Kellogg said. "(Rhode Island's defenders) kind of slipped and didn't step out on the three when he raised up, and I basically knew it was in. I've seen that numerous times in his career and that was one more in the memory bank for me."

"It was big. It was definitely a crucial shot that he made," sophomore guard Derrick Gordon added. "We just didn't let up. He wanted it more and we went out there and got the job done."

After his wide-open 3-point look with the Minutemen trailing 55-52 with 6:07 left didn't fall, it wasn't clear if Williams had another big shot left in him. After all, it was the type of shot Williams typically makes in exactly the type of moment in which he typically makes it.

Though that shot – and eight others – didn't fall, Williams tried not to let if affect him.

"My teammates just kept faith in me. They kept telling me to be aggressive," he said. Whenever I would miss, they would tell me the next shot is going in. I was just playing with confidence down the stretch and I fell like I hadn't done enough this game to help my team and I didn't want to let the guys down. I felt like I needed to make a stand."

When his late shot did fall, Williams didn't hold backing in letting his frustrations go by showing a little emotion.